- Faculty; On Campus
During a computer networking lab a few years ago, one of Dr. Lundy Lewis' students unexpectedly discovered that his password for a common text-messaging application was passing through a network unencrypted.
"It was a surprise to all of us," Lewis says. "That opens up the possibility of a network breach."
As chair of the Information Technology Department, Lewis is an expert in computer networking, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. A researcher for the U.S. Department of Defense who focuses on protecting computerized information from spies and others with sinister intentions, he brings 14 years of industry experience to the classroom.
A long-time director of research in network management for Cabletron Systems, a New Hampshire computer networking company that reorganized as a holding company in 2000, Lewis infuses his lectures with real-world examples and invites industry experts to help students prepare for information-technology careers.
"I've always given them guidelines about how to succeed in industry," he says. "So my classes are not all academic. I try to bring in stories and lessons learned from my experience."
Lewis also teaches courses on game design and digital music. An accomplished guitar player and pianist who recorded a CD in 2001, he considers the classroom a symphony of sorts.
"I like the interaction with the students," he says. "No matter how things are going, when I get in front of a classroom with the students and get involved in the interaction, it all goes away. It's delightful and cathartic."
